Renters Credit not showing up in tax refund

[Pixie-Port]

I qualify for $60 California Rent Credit, but at the end of my tax form before submitting to IRS, it shows $0 for State refund. Why doesn't it show up as a refund?

[SharonD007 · Accepted solution]

You must meet the eligibility requirements below to qualify for the CA Renter's Credit:

• You paid rent in California for at least 1/2 the year
• The property wasn't tax exempt
• Your California income was:
  • $52,421 or less if your filing status is single or married/registered domestic partner (RDP) filing separately
  • $104,842 or less if you are married/RDP filing jointly, head of household, or qualified widow(er)
• You didn't live with someone who can claim you as a dependent
• You or your spouse/RDP were not given a property tax exemption during the tax year.

Refer to CA FTB website Nonrefundable renter credit for more information.

The CA Renter's Credit is a nonrefundable credit, which means it reduces the amount of tax that you owe.  If your state refund is 0, you didn't owe any taxes, which may be the reason why you aren't getting the credit.

Refer to the TurboTax article What's the Difference Between a Refundable and a Nonrefundable Credit? for more information.